Help with my moody cat

Question

I have a 3 year old cat just over 1 year ago I got another cat thinking they could be friends I could not of been more wrong. The older cat hates the young one and has been upset with ever since I got the new cat, she is ok when she wants food but other than that she hisses and growles at me and no longer wants to sit on my knee or near me will she always be like this from now on?

Answer 1

her moods will probably pass.....i hav a 15 yr old tomcat n i got 2 she kittens n he doesnt like them in his personal space bt he puts up with them now  

Answer 2

thats wot happens when u cut their nuts off;-)

Answer 3

I think she'll grow out of it with time.  She probably feels like you're a traitor bringing another pet into your home, trying to replace her, etc.  Give her extra attenton and loving.

Answer 4

It will be okay! It will take some time. Do you favor the other cat more now because its new?! I would just sometimes lock the other cat up and just spend some quality time with the older cat.

Answer 5

Did you slowly introduce them or just throw them together?  You have to give her (the kitten) time. You should always start a cat out in a small room with food, water and litterbox (like a large bathroom or guest room). Make sure you can go in there are just spend time with her (you don't have to try to pet her, just sit and chat quietly or read) often. Get her used to you and the noise of the household before letting her out of that room and to get to know the existing cat through the door. Let her out for small periods of time, but always when you are there.  Praise both cats when they are nice to each other, but don't force interaction.  My cats still avoid each other after 7 years.  This may take a few weeks, but you'll have a happier and more well-adjusted cats in the end.

Think about it this way.  Imagine living by yourself for years - the only child - and mom brings home a new kid and says "You have to be best friends! Now! Play! Be buddies!"  wouldn't you hiss and talk under your breath?  Same idea.

Answer 6

Make sure you make more fuss of the older cat, because you have to remember it was his home before the new cats. I know sometimes if you have a new kitten it is usually fussed over more.

But try hard to pay more attention to the older cat, feed him first etc

Hope this helps

I'm sure he will realise that you still love him!

Answer 7

She will get used to it just give her time to come to terms with it good luck xx

Answer 8

She may not actually HATE the younger cat, she may simply be jealous. You say she does not want to sit near you or on your lap any longer? She is probably upset with you for spending a good deal of time with your younger kitty.

Does your older cat have a favorite type of toy or food? If she does, try buying her a new toy of the same kind, or her favorite food JUST for her. Contrary to what most people believe, cats understand more human language than we think, and they definitely have emotions. Spend a little more time with your older cat, make a fuss over her for a few days. Do things with her that you did before getting a new cat, things that you might not do any longer, though you didn't intend for that to happen.

Of course, don't neglect your other kitty. Spend just as much time with her, but perhaps, for a few days, (and a few days only; you don't want HER to become jealous) don't make quite as big a fuss over her as you do your older girl.

In a short time, you should see an improvement in your older cat's moods, and she'll probably become more accepting of the other cat, and not be so grouchy with you, either!

Answer 9

good job it aint my cat cus it would having problems going to the bathroom to get rid of the size 9 shoe i would stick up its *** (with foot attached!)

Answer 10

Cats are territorial and aggressive to anyone / thing they do not recognise as part of their family.

The best you can hope for is for them to ignore each other, it's very rare for cats that are not family to get along.

They recognise whether someone/thing is family by smell. If you have had the new cat on your knee the old cat will think of you as not family and a possible danger.

There are things you can do.

There is a product called felliway - it is synthetic cat hormones and produces a neutral cat friendly smell (humans don't smell it) so get some and spray bedding, communal areas etc with it - not sure but i think you might be able to get it in a form similar to plug in air fresheners.

After that you need to mix the cats' smells. So you need to stroke one cat with a dry flannel or towel and then stroke the other cat with the same towel, then back to the first so the smells get mixed. Do this every day, a few times a day for a couple of weeks.

whist the cats are getting their smells mixed it might be better to let each one have its own territory. A room or even a shelf they can call their own and create 'passageways' so one cat can pass through the other's territory, ideally these are high up places like bookshelves. This is what cats do naturally. Have you ever noticed cats seem to like walking on top of fences? This is because they are passing through another cat's territory.